From ISMA�ILA MUHAMMAD (just back from Kaduna)
IT has been observed that the Northern part of
the country can be economically viable to the extent that even the oil
sector cannot compete with it if the region�s abundant land is put under
cultivation.
�We see all over the place uncultivated
millions and millions of hectares of land lying fallow, every rainy season,
rain pours down free for us on this endless land only to wet the bushes�,
Arewa Union (AU) has observed.
The union made the observation in its position
paper titled, �AU: The Way Forward, Mission Statement,� delivered at the
just concluded Northern Unity Forum which was organized by the 19 Northern
state governors which took place in Kaduna last week.
The position paper which was signed by
Barrister Sadau Garba for its president, Dr. Umaru Dikko, disclosed that
almost all the year round, the sun gives free light and heat as well as the
solar energy given by God (Almighty), without paying for it, pointing out
that if these blessings were cared used appropriately and effectively, the
North could have become economically strong.
�It is not that we do not know what to do, but
we are simply lethargic; we would rather receive money from constitutional
allocation, we have minerals unexploited, even oil, we do not care to
intensity search for it,� the paper quipped.
On the unity of the region, the union observed
that the North�s unity is seriously in question as it is a marriage of
complexity, stressing the need for re-definition and proper identification,
pointing out that it is the logical consequences of breaking the region into
a number of political entities called states.
�Having agreed with our new concept and
definition of the new unity in the form of union, we should proceed to agree
on the purpose, which the new Northern unity must serve�, the union added.
On the 2007 elections, the union suggested that
the North must concentrate on strategies and less noise, stressing that
confrontation can be both tiring and boring, saying that we do not need to
insist on wining all the rounds.
The union explained that if the referendum
results in the affirmative, the issue of oil dichotomy falls into place,
restructuring becomes necessary, be it upward or downword, the country has
to be held together with a proper balance based on fairness and justice,
adding that if the referendum results in the negative however, any further
argument on dichotomy will not arise.
On the educational imbalance, the union charged
the new united North to wake up and tackle the imbalance with a collective
mission, saying that the only answer is to provide free primary education
even if not compulsory.
It lamented that in the 2004 JAMB results, the
19 Northern states together had only about 300 successful candidates, while
one state in down South had more than 3,000.
On the security of life and property, the paper noted that the
most important duty of any leader, ruler, governor, or government, is to the
security of life and property of the governed.
